John Katko: Full of Rhetoric, Short on Solutions

John Katko continues to refuse to take a position on his own party’s plan to address the nation’s debt, even though he says it’s the top issue. For months, John Katko has been campaigning on his belief that “the number one issue facing America” is the debt. The only problem: his party crafted and passed their own plan to address the debt. Not only did John Katko say he hasn’t even read his own party’s plan, but he also refused to say whether or not he would vote for it. Instead, Katko told the Auburn Citizen that if Central New Yorkers want to know how he will vote on federal legislation, they will need to vote him into Congress first, stating that, “unless and until I get into Congress, I’m not going to start issuing opinions…”

“If John Katko believes this is the number one issue facing America, why hasn’t he read his own party’s plan address it, and why does he continue to refuse to say whether or not he would vote for it?” said Marc Brumer of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “John Katko has plenty of rhetoric, plenty of excuses, but zero solutions. Voters won’t be fooled by another radical ideologue like Ann Marie Buerkle who pretends to care about Central New Yorkers’ priorities on the campaign trail, but goes on a reckless crusade that hurts the middle class when in office.”

BACKGROUND:

John Katko said the most important issue facing America is the debt. When asked in a conservative candidate forum to name the most important domestic issue facing America, Katko answered, “The debt. It’s crushing America.” [Post-Standard, 2/28/14]

John Katko says that he hasn’t read Paul Ryan’s Budget plan and if Central New Yorkers want to know how he will vote on federal legislation, they will need to vote him into Congress first. When asked about his position on the Ryan Budget Katko said he hadn’t read the plan and refused to say how he would vote saying, “unless and until I get into Congress, I’m not going to start issuing opinions…” [Auburn Citizen, 5/5/14]